Rumple was awakened the next morning by beams of sunlight. As he opened his large reptilian eyes, he noticed that he wasn't in his own room. He remembered the Rose wanted to stay with him and Belle the previous night so she could sleep. He dozed off before he was able to slip out after she fell asleep. His eyes focused on the woman sleeping near him. She was a lot closer than she was last night. She was actually snuggled up against him. He then noticed that their arms were wrapped around one another. They both must have thought they were holding Rose while in deep sleep. He knew he should wake her and release himself from her embrace, but he didn't. He enjoyed her warmth. He took in her sweet honey scent and sighed in content. It had been years since he had a woman this close to him in bed. He looked down at her in a peaceful sleep. She had a slight smile on her ruby red lips. The morning sunlight illuminated her features. If it were possible, he thought she looked even beautiful. He marveled at her until she started to stir. Her eyes slowly opened. She felt something warm wrapped around her. She looked up and met his eyes. He expected her to be mortified. He expected her to break away and run from the room. She simply smiled at him.
"Good morning, Rumple." He was still in a trance, but her voice brought him from his thoughts.
"Good morning, Belle." She looked down and noticed that they were entwined with each other. She should've moved away, but she couldn't. She felt warm and somewhat safe in his arms. He wasn't pulling away from her and she didn't want to pull away from him. She wanted to stay there forever. She wanted to breathe in his spicy musk everyday for the rest of her life. She wanted to always be in his presence. She couldn't believe it. She was falling for the man that basically kidnapped her. She was always an odd girl. She has been since she was a child. Falling in love with the Dark One could be the oddest thing about her, but she would be the only one to know that. She knew the only love he had was for his magic and his daughter. Remembering Rose, Belle noticed that she wasn't in the bed with them.
"Where's Rose?" Rumple looked around and noticed she wasn't with them.
"She must have went to the hill to watch the sunrise. She does it every morning."
"I know. She brought me up there while you were away. She told me it was something you two did. I think it's very sweet that you have a little tradition with her. I didn't think you were that sort of parent."
"I don't know if you've noticed, dearie, but I'm anything but traditional. But when it comes to my daughter, nothing is off limits to make her happy. You'll learn that in years to come now that you're her mother." Belle knew he was right. She knew a good bit about caring for Rose. She knew about being a caretaker, but she knew next to nothing about being a mother. Her own mother had to juggle being a mother and being a queen. Her duties got in the way of her caring for Belle. Belle was mostly kept by her maids, but she cherished the few moments she did have with her.
"I want to thank you."
"For what?"
"When I agreed to come here with you forever, I knew I sacrificed a lot of things I wanted to do. One of which was to be a mother. Since I was a little girl, I had always imagined myself as a mother. Caring for a child of my own. Feeding them and changing diapers when they were babies. Watching them grow as they learn to crawl, walk, and talk. I may not have the chance to care for a baby, but I'm glad I get to care for Rose. She's wonderful and I know I'll only love her more as each day passes." Rumple looked down at the young woman in amazement. He could believe someone that was there against her will could still be so hopeful and happy and wonderful. She loved Rose with all her heart, but she still had to deal with him. That would put a damper on anyone's day. She was always so positive and bright. And he would get to enjoy it for the rest of her life.
"Belle..." Before he could continue, a small voice interrupted him.
"Mama? Papa?" They both looked up and saw Rose standing in the doorway holding her blanket. She must have just come down from the hill. Rumple and Belle noticed that they were still entwined together. They quickly released one another and sat up. They returned their attention to the small child who was now standing at the foot of the bed.
"Why didn't you wake us, flower? We would've watched the sunrise with you." She climbed onto the bed and sat between them.
"I tried, but you and Mama didn't wake up." Belle and Rumple looked at one another, then Belle chuckled.
"It must have been that tea you brought home." He smirked.
"That's the last time I bring home that tea." Belle giggled, then back to Rose.
"Well, next time, we'll both watch the sunrise with you. For now, why don't we get started on breakfast? Do you think you can go down to the garden and pick some berries?"
"What kind?"
"Any ones you want. Surprise me."
"Okay!" She jumped out of the bed and ran off. Rumple and Belle chuckled at the excited child as they both rose from the bed. Rumple waved his hand and the bed was fixed and they were both fully dressed.
"Thank you."
"It's no matter."
"I should start preparing breakfast while Rose is out picking fruit." Belle headed out the door, Rumple close behind her.
"And what can I do to help?" Belle stopped and looked at him in shock. He had never offered to help her with anything. Of his few acts of kindness, helping was never one of them. She always did everything on her own or with Rose's help.
"You wish to help?"
"Unless you wish to do it alone."
"No! I mean...Your help will be greatly appreciated." They both went down to the kitchen and started on a batter for pancakes. Rose came in from the garden with a basket full of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Belle noticed that Rose had a flower in her hair. "Rose, you put a lily in your hair?"
"I saw it and thought it was pretty." She giggled at her.
"It is very pretty. Now, let's get these berries cleaned." Belle washed off the berries and started to cut them up. They were then added to the pancake batter. While Belle worked on the pancakes, Rumple worked on squeezing oranges for juice. He could've easily used his magic, but he felt like using his hands. Rose helped by holding a strainer over the pitcher to catch the seeds and pulp. Once everything was finished, they sat down at the kitchen table and ate together. Rose kept up the conversations by talking about her dreams and the books she and Belle read and asking questions about both. Rose was happier than she's ever been. She felt like she had a real family now. She knew Rumple and Belle weren't her biological parents, but she didn't care. They both loved her and proved it everyday. That's all she's ever wanted. After they finished eating, they cleaned up the dishes and the rest of the mess. As they left the kitchen, Rumple looked to Rose.
"Well, flower, what do you wish to do next? We have all day to do whatever you want." There was so much Rose wanted to do with both her father and her new mother. There were so many games they could play and many books to read. The possibilities were endless, but there was one thing she wanted to do at that moment.
"I wanna see my other mama." Rumple and Belle looked at one another. They both knew this was coming. She wanted to see Elizabeth. He promised her that she could see her that morning. He had to keep his promise. He kneeled to eye level with her.
"Rose, sweetheart. I know you wish to see her, but why do you want to?" She shrugged her shoulders.
"I wanna talk to her." What could she possibly want to talk to her about? She pretty much knew why she didn't want her and what she did to make sure she wouldn't have to deal with her. What's left to talk about?
"You should know she won't be nice, flower. She may say hurtful things to you. Are you sure you want to do this?" She thought about it for a moment. She was hurt the first time she met her mother. She knew how Elizabeth thought of her. There was nothing left to say that could hurt her anymore than it did last time. She finally nodded.
"Yes." Rumple didn't feel comfortable with it, but a promise was a promise. And he would be right there in case anything went wrong.
"Alright." He stood and took her hand in his as he led her to the dungeon. Belle followed behind them. She wanted to be there and know what it was the Rose wanted from her birth mother. They went down the staircase and approached the room where Elizabeth was being held. With a flick of the wrist, Rumple opened the door. Elizabeth looked up and saw Rumple. Even after the "talk" they had the previous day, she didn't flinch at the sight of him. She glared at him in hatred.
"What do you want now? Have you come to finally kill me?"
"As tempting as that sounds, no." Rose entered, then Belle behind her. Elizabeth glared at Rose, then back up to Rumple.
"Do you expect me to apologize to the child? You're wasting your time." It took all of his willpower not to kill her right then and there.
"We're not here to force an apology out of you. It would be a waste of my magic and my time. She has requested to see you. She wishes to speak with you." Elizabeth turned her attention to her child.
"I have nothing to say to you." Rose released Rumple's hand and slowly walked toward the chained up woman. Rumple didn't feel comfortable to have Rose in the same room with Elizabeth, let alone having her get close to her. Even with the enchantment that protected her and with Elizabeth chained up, he was still a bit on edge, but he let her go. Rose got close enough to touch her face. Elizabeth lifted her arms to push her away. "Don't you touch me!"
Before her hands reached her, they were pushed away by an invisible force. Rumple didn't lift a finger. The enchantment did it for him. It was amplified in the dungeon in case Rose ever went down there. Rose continued to feel her mother's smooth skin. Rumple and Belle were puzzled by this, but allowed her to do so. Rose then looked into her emerald eyes that were similar to her own. The only difference was that Elizabeth's eyes were filled with anger, disgust, and hatred. Rose had never seen someone so angry and bitter. Even when he father was mad, he never had that sort of strong emotion in his eyes.
"I think you're pretty." Elizabeth was puzzled for a moment. This child knew she hated her and never wanted her. Why complement her? Rumple and Belle wondered the same. Elizabeth kept her guard up regardless.
"Yes. I'm beautiful." Rose's hands continued to her thick black hair. She usually brushed it out when she was a doll. After the altercation with Belle and being locked away for a few days, it hasn't been done. It was starting tangle and go astray. Rose went over to Rumple and gestured him to kneel down. He did as she wanted and she whispered something in his ear. He looked at her in confusion for a moment. He then waved his hand and a hair brush appeared in Rose's hand. She then back to Elizabeth. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I wanna brush your hair." Elizabeth couldn't stop her. Her hands were constricted and if she tried to harm her, the enchantment wouldn't allow her. Rose started to gently brush out her hair. "Who was my papa?"
"What?"
"My other papa. Who was he?" Rumple felt a tinge of jealousy. He was her papa. He always has been. Why was she worried about her birth father? Elizabeth looked to Rumple. He gave her a threatening look that told her to answer the question. She straightened up.
"He was knight in my father's court."
"What's his name?" Elizabeth was curious to why she was asking her questions while brushing her hair. What did she hope to gain from this? With Rumple standing at the door watching so intensely, she had no choice but to answer her questions.
"His name was Aaron." Belle gasped. Everyone turned their attention to her. Elizabeth smirked. "I take it you remember him, Belle."
"I do, the ogre." Rumple heard her whisper the last part.
"Belle?" She leaned close to whisper to him.
"He was the most dishonorable knight I've ever met. Arrogant and appalling. He forced himself on women and tried to bed both of us multiple times. Her father never believed us and kept him because he was one of the best fighters in his army." Rumple couldn't believe it. Rose, sweet little Rose, was born from a hateful woman and an arrogant sexual predator. This child was born unloved and unwanted. And now she was the most precious and important person to Rumpelstiltskin, the Dark One. If only she knew how messed up that was.
"Mama?" Belle looked back over to Rose.
"Don't worry about it, sweetheart." Rose wanted to question it, but she had many other questions for her mother. She returned to brushing out her hair.
"Where is he?" She smirked.
"He's dead. After my father found out I was with child, he was executed. He's gone forever. And he's never coming back." Rose wanted to feel sad, but she couldn't. She didn't know the man. He may have been her father, but he wasn't her papa. She couldn't feel sad over his death. She couldn't miss him since she never met him.
"I'm sorry." Elizabeth looked at the child in confusion.
"Why are you sorry?"
"You loved him. And he's gone." She scoffed at the child.
"And what makes you think I loved him?"
"You are my mama and he was my papa. And mamas and papas love each other." Elizabeth brought her gaze to Rumple and Belle and smirked.
"Really? Is that what they taught you?" They both knew what she was implying. Rumple and Belle were still confused about their feelings for each other. Belle felt that she could love Rumple, but she didn't know if he would let her into his heart. Rumple felt the same way. He was still a monster and no one could love a monster. Rose was only the exception since she had been with her since she was a baby. She grew up knowing who he was and what he looked like.
"I think mamas and papas should love each other so they can be happy." Rose finished brushing out Elizabeth's hair. She put the brush on the ground. She took the lily from her hair and went to put it in Elizabeth's, but she backed away.
"Get that away from me!" Rose jumped back at her yelling. She was confused until Belle spoke up.
"Oh, Rose. She's allergic to lilies." Rose tilted her head in confusion.
"What does that mean?"
"It means she can't touch them or she'll get a rash."
"Oh." She put the lily back in her own hair and reached into her pocket. She took out a gold thread that was tied together at the ends. She placed the thread on Elizabeth's head and it made a band around her head. Why was she doing this? She brushed out her hair, then accessorized it. What was she trying to do? "All done!"
"What?"
"Your hair is pretty again." She narrowed her eyes.
"Why? Why are you being nice to me? What are you trying to do? What do you want from me?" Rose didn't respond. Instead, she hugged her. This threw everyone off. Why was she hugging a woman that hated her just to hate her?
"I'm sorry, Mama." She broke away from the hug and looked at her mother. Elizabeth was more confused than ever.
"What are you sorry for?"
"For what I did to make you not love me." Elizabeth's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. She abandoned her and left her for dead and she was apologizing to her. Rose didn't want her to hate her. She had Belle as her mama. Belle loved her with everything she had, but Rose still wanted the love and approval of her birth mother. She may never get it, but it didn't hurt to try and earn it. Elizabeth looked Rose dead in the eyes.
"You may apologize all you want, but you can't be unborn. You were born a bastard and that's all you'll ever be. Nothing will ever change that. And you can play sweet and innocent until the end of time, but I will never claim you. And I will never love you." Elizabeth was suddenly sent back to the wall and was knocked unconscious by the impact. Belle looked over and saw Rumple's hand was still raised. His eyes were flaming with anger. Belle took his hand and lowered it.
"Rumple." He looked into her eyes and calmed down. Rose wasn't phased by what happened. She was still in disbelief. She had been nothing but nice to her mother. She talked to her and fixed her hair and, in a way, kept her alive. If she hadn't asked to see her, Rumple surely would've killed her by now. He tried to warn her that this would happen. She should've listened to him. The flood gates opened and Rose broke out in tears. She turned and ran over to Belle.
"Mama!" Belle picked her up and held her. She buried her face in Belle's shoulder and cried.
"Shh. It's alright, Rose." Rumpled gently stroked her hair. She brought her face from Belle's shoulder and looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Papa." His heart broke to see her so upset.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, flower. You did nothing wrong."
"That's right. Nothing is your fault. She may not love you, but we do and we always will. Nothing will ever change that." Rose wiped away her tears. She knew she was loved by them and she always would be. She didn't have to earn their love. They just gave it. And she did everything in her power to return it. She laid her head on Belle's shoulder and clung tightly to her. Belle took her from the room, but Rumple stayed behind. Rose saw this.
"Papa?" Belle turned around and saw him still standing in the doorway. He looked from the unconscious prisoner to them.
"Aren't you coming, Rumple?"
"I'll be up in a moment." Belle didn't trust the way he said that. Rose was thinking the same thing.
"Papa, please." He looked to his daughter. "Don't hurt her."
"But she..."
"Please." He was conflicted. He wanted to torture the life out of the woman who hurt his daughter, but said daughter didn't want him to.
"She's not worth the effort, Rumple. Rose needs you right now." She was right. Rose was highly upset right now and him torturing Elizabeth wasn't going to help her. He flicked his wrist and the door to the dungeon closed and locked.
"I'm coming." Belle resumed her walk up the stairs. He made the right choice. Once they were up the stairs, Belle placed Rose back on the ground. Her eyes were still bloodshot, but she had stopped crying. Rumple and Belle could tell she was still upset, so they decided to try and take her mind off of what happened in the dungeon. "What do you wish to do now, flower? We still have all day to do what you want."
"Can we play a game?"
"Of course. What should we play first?" She smiled her adorable smile that Rumple and Belle loved so much.
"Hide and Seek!"